Source: www.csw.org.uk
Date: February 1, 2020
‘I waited patiently for the LORD; he turned to me and heard my cry. He lifted me out of the slimy pit, out of the mud and mire; he set my feet on a rock and gave me a firm place to stand.’ Psalm 40:1-2
Waiting for God to answer our prayers is difficult – even more so if you are unjustly accused of something you didn’t do. In that place, we cling to the hope and confidence we have that God will hear and will answer our cries, setting our feet firmly on a rock while the storms around us are raging. It’s the words of David in Psalm 40 which inspire and guide our prayers this week for Chinimaya Blon and Pastor Hari Tamang in Nepal.
Chinimaya Blon is a Christian social worker from eastern Nepal, who has run an orphanage in Dhankuta district since 2011. In 2016 the government refused to renew her licence. She then took the children to Kathmandu where Pastor Hari Tamang offered shelter for the 14 children within his church compound.
Nine days later, police and social welfare services raided the compound and took custody of the children. Chinimaya and Pastor Tamang were both arrested and charged with child trafficking and attempted conversion of minors. They were imprisoned for some time and then released, and the charges of trafficking were dropped. However, the case for attempted conversion has been ongoing since 2016.
Chinimaya and Pastor Tamang have faced delays and setbacks in their case over the last three years, including a postponed hearing last December, but are due to appear in the Supreme Court on Wednesday 5 February.
In summary, please pray:
• That all charges against Chinimaya and Pastor Tamang would be dropped in the Supreme Court hearing on Wednesday.
• Asking God to intervene to bring justice for Chinimaya and Pastor Tamang, so that they would be able to return to their ministries.
• For the countless other Christians in Nepal who are facing unfounded charges of conversion, that God comes quickly to their aid.